Canada

Mr. Floatie raises stink in Victoria

The Canadian Press -
Nov 22, 2012 / 9:40 pm | Story:
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Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Local sewage activist James Skwarok, also known as Mr. Floatie, dips his boot into the water near Clover Point in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. With the federal byelection in Victoria approaching, Mr. Floatie sees Victoria's lack of sewage treatment emerging as the primary issue and wants Liberals and New Democrats, who traditionally alternate the riding, to remind them what Victorians flush in the the ocean daily. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

The Victoria federal byelection has become a messy, smelly and often rancorous campaign with sewage treatment, specifically, Victoria's lack of it, emerging as the primary campaign issue.

Sensing shifting political winds as Victorians face huge tax bills to pay for a proposed $783-million treatment plan, candidates have lined up against the proposal.

The pro-environment Green Party is opposed to the treatment plan, with its candidate Donald Galloway saying he's holding out for a better plan.

Conservative candidate Dale Gann started the campaign supporting the treatment plan, but changed his mind at the midway point.

He now says the timing is wrong, which is a bold move, considering Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered to contribute one-third of the funds for the project.

Liberal Paul Summerville, calculating the high-cost concerns of Victoria voters, says the plan is a billion-dollar make-work project for the New Democrats that's based on flawed science.

He wants the whole issue put on hold until 2040.

New Democrat candidate Murray Rankin admits the plan has holes, but says it's time Victoria joined most other communities along the West Coast who have been treating their sewage for decades.